Abstract: A testing system includes a truck carrying a circuit breaker, a fixed contact, and an actuator piston connected to a movable contact. A test platform supports the truck in a contact testing position and includes a sensor circuit mounted on the test platform and positioned under the truck and aligned with the circuit breaker when the truck is on the test platform in the contact testing position. The sensor circuit is configured to acquire displacement data of the actuator piston when the movable electrical contact is moved between the open and closed positions. A controller is coupled to the sensor circuit and configured to receive the displacement data and determine electrical contact erosion within the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A switchgear device may include a frame defining an interior compartment, an electrical breaker component carried within the interior compartment, and a first optical sensor carried within the interior compartment. The switchgear device may include a grounding device coupled to the electrical breaker component and being within the interior compartment. The grounding device may include an axle extending between the interior compartment and an exterior of the frame, a linkage coupled to the axle, and a grounding switch coupled to the linkage and switching between a first open state and a second closed state. The switchgear device may include a controller coupled to the electrical breaker component, the first optical sensor, and the grounding device and configured to cause the grounding switch to switch to the second closed state based upon the first optical sensor.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a frame defining a housing having an interior compartment and a circuit interrupter. An actuator is connected to the circuit interrupter and configured to actuate the circuit interrupter into closed and open breaker positions. An indicator is connected to the actuator and movable between first and second positions corresponding to the respective closed and open breaker positions. A first indicator surface has first indicia indicative that the circuit interrupter is in the closed breaker position and a second indicator surface having second indicia indicative that the circuit interrupter is in the open breaker position. An opening is formed on the housing and aligned with the indicator to expose for view the respective first or second indicia when the circuit interrupter is in the respective closed or open breaker position.

Abstract: A switchgear system includes a switchgear frame and a truck carrying a circuit breaker, which includes a breaker housing, a fixed electrical contact and a movable electrical contact mounted within the breaker housing, an actuator piston connected to the movable electrical contact, and a drive assembly coupled to the actuator piston. A sensor circuit is mounted on the switchgear frame under the truck and aligned with the circuit breaker and configured to acquire displacement data of the actuator piston when in a contact testing position. A controller is coupled to the sensor circuit and configured to receive the displacement data and determine electrical contact erosion within the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A ground and test (G&T) device includes a test device housing having load and line conductors and a plurality of upper terminals and plurality of lower terminals carried by the test device housing and configured to engage the load and line conductors when the test device housing in installed within the compartment of the switchgear frame. A lower ground bus bar is carried by the test device housing and a plurality of grounding bars selectively connect either the upper terminals to the lower ground bus bar or connect the lower terminals to the lower ground bus bar. A ground shoe assembly is connected to the lower ground bus bar and configured to engage a grounding circuit carried by the switchgear frame.

Abstract: A switchgear system includes a switchgear frame having an interior compartment and front opening and containing therein at least one electrical switchgear component. A truck carries an electrical component and is supported for movement on the switchgear frame. A drive mechanism connects the truck and is configured to rack in the truck into an electrically connected position with the at least one electrical switchgear component, rack out the truck from the electrically connected position into an electrically disconnected position, and rotate the truck upward from its disconnected position into a rotated position to allow operator access through the front opening to the at least one electrical component.

Abstract: A contact arm assembly includes a contact arm defining a central axis and having a first end configured for electrical connection with a pole of a circuit breaker and a second end having a distal end defining a shoulder and an engagement that protrudes from the contact arm proximal to the shoulder. A plurality of contact fingers are mounted circumferentially on the second end of the contact arm and configured to electrically engage a primary circuit contact. Each contact finger has a body with a depression that receives the engagement for electrical contact.

Abstract: A switchgear system may include a switchgear frame and a truck carrying a circuit breaker and supported for linear movement on the switchgear frame. A drive mechanism may rack in the truck and the circuit breaker is in electrical connection with primary circuit contacts, and may rack out the truck and the circuit breaker is electrically disconnected from the primary circuit contacts. As the drive mechanism racks in the circuit breaker, a shutter linkage moves a shutter opened, and as the drive mechanism racks out the circuit breaker, the shutter linkage moves the shutter closed over the primary circuit contacts.

Abstract: A medium-voltage switchgear system includes a three-phase circuit breaker having first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters connected between respective first, second and third single-phase inputs and first, second and third single-phase outputs. Magnetic actuators are connected to first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters, which are configured to receive an interrupt signal and in response, actuate the respective vacuum interrupter connected thereto into an open circuit condition. A controller circuit is connected to each of the first, second and third magnetic actuators and generates an interrupt signal in response to a detected single-phase overcurrent or fault on a single-phase circuit and interrupt that single-phase circuit on which the single-phase overcurrent or fault occurred and maintain power on the remaining two single-phase circuits over which a single-phase overcurrent or fault was not detected.

Abstract: A switchgear system may include a switchgear frame, a truck and circuit breaker mounted thereon. A drive mechanism is mounted on the switchgear frame and configured to rack the circuit breaker into a) a first connected position where the primary and secondary circuits are electrically connected, b) a second test position where the primary circuit is electrically disconnected and secondary circuit connected, and c) a third disconnected position where the primary and secondary circuits are electrically disconnected, wherein said drive mechanism comprises a drive chain and shuttle configured to engage the truck and rack and fix the circuit breaker into the first connected position.